Regulatory Change Requires Use of Traffic Noise Model

The noise regulations developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) apply to highway construction projects that have received federal funding at the request of a state's department of transportation (DOT). A state DOT must determine if there will be traffic noise impacts in areas adjacent to federally aided highways when a project is proposed to construct or reconstruct a highway. Analysts must use a highway traffic noise prediction model to calculate traffic noise levels and to determine the traffic noise impacts. As of May 2, 2005, revised regulations specify use of the FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM)--or any other model that FHWA has determined is consistent with the TNM methodology.